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MotoGP Coming to Laguna Seca!

Thought you’d never have the chance to see Valentino Rossi race with your own eyes? Well, guess again. Thanks to new title sponsor Red Bull, MotoGP will be coming to Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California next year. Here’s the press release from Laguna Seca:

MAZDA RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA ANNOUNCES RETURN OF MotoGP IN 2005

SCRAMP and Dorna reach five-year agreement in principal to bring the world’s fastest motorcycle racing back to Monterey

MONTEREY, Calif. (August 19, 2004) – The Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP) and Dorna Sports, the Spanish-based company that holds the commercial and TV rights to the FIM MotoGP World Championships, have reached an agreement in principal to bring MotoGP, the pinnacle of international motorcycle racing, to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca beginning in 2005 for a five-year run.

Following the initial agreement, Dorna will include the U.S. Grand Prix in the 2005 MotoGP pre-calendar to be presented to the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) for its approval.

“The support from fans and sponsors has been of great encouragement in this decision,” said Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca General Manager Gill Campbell. “Corporate sponsorships are vital for the track improvements that will need to be made to satisfy FIM regulations.

“We feel that we have a great product with a tremendous amount of potential. We continue to produce world class events at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and that’s what we’re all about.”

“Dorna has always been looking into the possibility of coming back with MotoGP to the USA,” added Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO Managing Director, Dorna Sports. “Now, thanks to the great cooperation among all the parties concerned and to the modifications being made at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, we are very happy that we have found the ideal opportunity to do so. The United States is an interesting market for MotoGP and certainly all the partners, manufacturers and sponsors involved will be very positive about returning there.”

This enthusiasm and belief in the sport of MotoGP is shared by Red Bull Energy Drink. They have partnered with Dorna and will be the title sponsor of the race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in 2005. The event will be officially named the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix.

The 500cc Grand Prix World Championship (now MotoGP) raced at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca from 1988 to 1994. There are once again a number of Americans competing in MotoGP, including Kenny Roberts Jr., who won the 2000 championship, Nicky Hayden, Colin Edwards, John Hopkins and Kurtis Roberts. The list of past American champions is a who’s who of motorcycle racing, including “King” Kenny Roberts (1978-1980), Wayne Rainey (1990-1992), Eddie Lawson (1984, ’86, ’88, ’89), Freddie Spencer (1983, ’85) and Kevin Schwantz (1993).

The dates and support events for the 2005 Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix will be determined in the near future.